We'll Meet Again (1982) User Reviews

Older Series Yet Very Good

[staying_younger · 8/10 · 23 April 2018]

I found this series by chance and instantly was drawn to the characters and the dynamics between the British residents of a village and the American GIs. It has some stereotypes but overall, I think it was written based on how many outside the US saw Americans overall. It's a good series that depicted the difficulties both cultures had when forced into the situation of war.

Some of the technical aspects are cheesy and outdated but they really are good considering the age of the show. The flight scenes were pretty good too for its time. Major James Kiley was one of my favorites along with Capt. Red Berwash.

The characters are mostly all interesting and provide a lot of the appeal for the series along with each story line of the main characters.

It has drama and just the right amount of romance. I liked how the lead female character played by Susannah York was a doctor and was very strong. Overall, I enjoyed the series and have watched it a time or two afterwards. I even purchased the novel that provided more of the story.

The lives of the inhabitants of a small village in WWII are changed forever when a squadron of the American Air force arrives

[dsebbit · 7/10 · 17 January 2017]

I liked the series. I have it on DVD & watch it from time to time. I agree some of the characters are a bit of a caricature and some of the American accents are appalling, but it's worth watching it just for Michael J Shannon who is completely believable as a USAF Major and the chemistry between his character Maj. Kiley and Dr Dereham.

In response to "jehaccess6"'s review - Susannah York was just over 40 when making this (not 50) - 3 or so years older than Michael J Shannon - and I think we're supposed to assume that Maj. Kiley was attracted to and by her character because she was more sophisticated, or perhaps more aloof, or just unavailable? I don't see him falling for her daughter who was frankly too young for him as well as the fact that she rather flung herself at him and followed him around like a lost puppy. We all go for the unattainable, don't we? Furthermore we can't help who we're attracted by can we?

Although the quality of the recording isn't brilliant, the series isn't dated because it's set in 1943.

I quite liked the addition of real footage of B-17s and airmen - gave it more authenticity.

Incidentally for those who are wondering, according to the book "We'll meet Again - the end of an era" which was a sort of sequel, Maj. Dereham dies so Helen marries Jim Kiley, they go to the USA and he becomes a politician, Vi & Chuck also go to the USA, have a couple of kids and Chuck becomes a dentist, Rosie Blair marries Peter Mundy & they take over the shop when Albert Mundy has a stroke, Hymie marries a friend of Rosie's and Lettie becomes a famous actress via rather dubious methods. Lettie's daughter grows up with the Mundys unaware who her real mother is.

Shame there was no second series

[kris-523-976233 · 8/10 · 29 February 2016]

I remember this series fondly from the early 80's when it was first broadcast, I agree with most of the reviews written here however jehaccess6 I have to point out to you that Susannah York was only 4 years younger than Michael Shannon so not a considerably younger man.

As for drbetteridge, a one star review, was it because your husband enjoyed it so much, was there something on another channel you would have preferred to watch? For your information regarding the American accents, some of the actors portraying them were in fact American, Michael Shannon, Lou Hirsch, Richard LeParminter, so you don't know anything about accents and I really thought Christopher Malcome was American at the time. As for the Brits, I'm sorry but that is exactly how they were in the 40', especially in rural England, most of them really hadn't been much further than the end of their roads. I've lived in the country and even now days a lot of them still haven't been any further so you really don't know what you are talking about.

The Yanks were really shocked at the way of life in England it really was like landing on another planet so this is a accurate depiction of the times. Sure it was low budget but then so were most UK TV productions of the time. It is well written and well acted, so if you have never watched ignore the one star review and and treat yourself. It really was a shame there wasn't a second series, I really never understood why

Age cannot wither it, nor custom stale...

[unclepete · 11 March 2001]

As a TV series that is nearly twenty years old, "We'll Meet Again" should be looking a little rough around the edges now. It is, however, a timeless classic worthy of inclusion in anybody's collection.

The story describes the effect on a small British village when an American Bomber Division lands during World War Two.

The feeling of 'old England' is captured beautifully, not least in the fabulous portrayal of stalwart shop keeper Albert Mundy by Ray Smith.

The series is long, weighing in at 690 minutes, but is very compelling as you are absorbed into the intricate history of the residents of the village and their interaction with the 'Yanks'.

The success of this show was phenomenal when first aired in the UK, and its conclusion brought about a national press campaign for a sequel, which was eventually commissioned for serialisation by a UK National Paper.

If you were there the first time, then I strongly urge you to invest in the beautiful DVD set available only on region 1 DVD.

If you love romance, nostalgia, or B-17s then this is for you!

Some satisfying elements if you ignore the screaming incongruities.

[jehaccess6 · 6/10 · 21 June 2012]

I suppose I approached the material from the angle of a WW2 buff instead of a romance/drama. The script would flow along well enough for a while and then some ridiculous plot development came along and spoiled the whole process.

The attack on the Yank airfield was ridiculous. The ME110 that roared in dropped its bombs on a shed instead of hitting some far more lucrative target such as a fuel depot or ammunition dump. Then the pilot proceeds to attack a lone cyclist and a group of women farmworkers. The Yanks seem remarkably unconcerned by the attack and no attempt to intercept the intruder is even considered. A wandering Yank in a Jeep blunders on to the farmland attack scene with no apparent reason why he should be wandering about on remote farmland except to allow him to meet his future wife.

The remarkable stupidity of the Letty character really stood out. She was so eager to get away from her stifling home life that she deliberately got pregnant with her Yank boyfriend to lock in his commitment. When the first boyfriend died, she latched onto the first new Yank that showed any interest.

The romance between the Yank major and the British doctor really lacked any force. Especially considering the risk the Yank was taking in his pursuit of a locally prominent married woman. The quite attractive daughter of the doctor would have eagerly welcomed any interest on the major's part. Her rejection in order to allow the major to concentrate on her mother would have likely led to her drawing the attention of the Major's commanding officer to the sordid conduct of the major.

The invincible composure of the injured husband of the doctor was astounding. He was content to allow another man to break up his family in order to avoid a confrontation. His wife's betrayal was not worthy of challenge.

The fact that Susannah York was about 50 years old in this production was too much to overlook. She was too far past her prime to be convincing as a woman who could arouse such passion in a much younger man. In all the closeups, we see that all the foundation is loosing the battle with the set lighting.

Well, this is not the worst historical drama ever, but it will never take top honors in my book.

My uncle and aunt's romance was the real-life story of this series!

[bookmarkjl · 10/10 · 10 May 2014]

I saw this TV show while I was doing overseas student teaching in the spring of 1982. There are 2 reasons why it has stuck with me - 1) it was really good, and 2) my uncle, in whose home I was staying while I taught in the UK, was the US military adviser for the show and his name appeared in the credits at the end of each episode!! I was so proud! His name was Lt. Col. Donald W. Brewer. He and my British-born Aunt Beryl's wartime romance was the real love story that was mirrored in the TV series. I have a full-page article/interview entitled "The real "We'll Meet Again"love story", from the newspaper they received at the time. It recounts the details of their whirlwind WWII romance and marriage and how it was that he was asked to read the script and give his opinion on the accuracy of the language, dress, and similar details of the US soldiers portrayed in the series.

I rate this a 7.5 and highly recommend it

[hondacivicdx · 7/10 · 8 October 2014]

I've seen enough war shows to last me a few lifetimes so I am definitely not a fan of war shows, however, this was well done and I enjoyed it.

I thought it was realistic and well acted. Too bad it only ran for one season. I'd have given it an 8 but for the ending not being complete.

I thought they did a decent job in tying up a couple of main relationships, having Sally and Mac get back together and Chuck return after having been missing but oh come on - couldn't they have at least let us see Chuck and Vi hug??! I think of the mindless footage wasted on Himey being petty or the strange yet rather meaningless storyline wherein Letty goes a bit crazy in the last episode.

The main relationship through the entire series was the affair of major Kiley and the Dr... and yet, how could they leave it up in the air in the end and not give us any sense either way who she chooses?! Sigh :\

Any way, a better ending than many series I've seen so I still highly recommend this show. I was able to view the entire series on youtube.

You can't borrow mine.......get your own !!

[kileyscap · 10/10 · 22 April 2011]

Love it, love it some more.....c'mon now - my favourite TV series ever!! Last saw it in the 80's when it aired, caught it again on digital rerun (just finished).

Great cast, Michael J Shannon and Susannah York are great, as are June Barry and Ray Smith.

Corny, soft focus filming, romantic, funny and sometimes a little reflective......as is the subject matter.

Just wish I had not seen it on the telly and still had it to watch as if new......go on - dare you to enjoy it.

oh, have bought the DVD set and both books.....no you can't borrow them!!

Can't get enough of it!

[jayke-39-940710 · 10/10 · 30 July 2019]

When I read some of the other reviews before I started watching, I thought why would anyone watch it through more than once. Well, I found out! I am starting on my 7th time through. I love the characters in it, even grumpy Mr. Mundy! So far there isn't anything else on TV that I want to watch in the evening but this. I just wish there were more episodes. The actors are great, the storyline is memorable.

Classic 80's TV series

[kazb_uk2002 · 8/10 · 18 January 2014]

I remember watching this first time around. I have always had a fascination with anything from World War II. Anyone watching this now will think it's a bit lame. but I loved it. The theme tune sets the scene (a big band playing 'We'll meet again'). It tells the story of a small market town being invaded by a US Air Force crew and the effect it has on their lives. Some bits are a bit naff but on the whole it's a good series. Just remember, it's 80's drama...nothing compared to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, but a good representation of what life may have been like during the early part of the forties, when the yanks were 'over here, over paid and over sexed' as it was so delicately put :)

Nothing but stereotypes

[drbetteridge · 1/10 · 30 March 2011]

I have somehow managed to sit through many of the episodes while my husband watched, and I can say that this is probably the worst bit of television I have seen. The American accents are horrendous, the acting insufferable, and the whole mood of the show nothing but largely untrue stereotypes and intolerance. What a complete waste of time. I can't understand any positive reviews of this show. Americans are portrayed as loud and obnoxious, given dialogue comprised entirely of the few characteristic "yankee-isms." It becomes very tiresome, very quickly. The British are all portrayed as small minded, backward yokels who have never travelled farther than the end of their road. I know it was not all peaches and cream at the time, but this is more like a cartoon... exaggerated to the point of pain.

My favourite ever TV series

[richardsk · 23 January 2002]

I loved this series and have watched it several times. A well made, well acted production which was very evocative of the WWII period. My favourite actor, Joris Stuyck, played M/Sgt Chuck Ericson. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good romantic story. Beautifully filmed - it's such a pity there was no follow-up series.

A Must for WWII Enthusiasts. (Minor Spoilers).

[highpriestess32 · 10/10 · 5 March 2017]

This classic 1980's drama charts the lives of the residents of a rural English town upon the arrival of the American Air Force.

Typical of it's genre, the story revolves around loves, losses, jealousies as well as exploring the resilience of the war-torn British.

It's 1943 and we see a jeep enter the small village of Market Wetherby. The locals are out in force going about their usual daily business when two "Yanks" appear asking if anybody speaks English. The local girls are of course overwhelmed by the sight of American GIs but one particular shopkeeper (Albert Mundy), views them with utter contempt. As a survivor of WWI having fought in the Somme and the father of a love-struck teenage daughter, he sees only trouble ahead.

Meanwhile, the local gentry - Major Ronald "Ronnie" Dereham and his wife, Dr. Helen Dereham (Susannah York), face both marital intrusion via the handsome American, Major Jim Kiley (played well by Michael J. Shannon), and Ronnie's ensuing war wounds.

The series flows well as we witness good character development. However its conclusion leaves the viewer with many loose ends to tie up. It may well be expressed that "This is not the beginning of the end but merely the end of the beginning" but this is how I felt the series concluded. Thankfully, author David Butler went on to make a written sequel named "The End of an Era" which I have just purchased and look forward to reading.

In conclusion, a very enjoyable series which really cried out for a continuation. It ended in the middle, effectively.

A favorite series of mine

[martinpersson97 · 9/10 · 17 March 2023]

This incredible drama about life during World War 2 is definitely a standout in TV history. Brilliantly showcasing the dramas, romances and hardships for soldiers and their relatives during the time of war.

It is just extremely well-written and acted, and just rings with much autenticity. The cinematography, cutting and editing is very fluid and it's just a technically well crafted piece of art.

Overall, definitely a recommended series for everyone. It's up there with my favourites, and for very good reason. Give it a watch for sure, jusg an inctedible TV show. Vera Lynn's beautiful music and lyrics will stay with you!

We loved it

[mb-155 · 8/10 · 8 February 2024]

I love this and should add we both did. It had proper writers, plenty of reality including one real plane.

Yes I know it's not camouflaged properly and there were a few bad American accents but each episode had a start, middle and end and a few episodes carried on in delightful ways.

When this was made they still had beer in the right shaped bottles which must have helped with establishing the right scenery. I kind of felt the attitudes were correct for that time period too.

Most of the love affairs, which always add something and the humour was great and most of all things were believable which is pretty key to this sort of production.

Also really great was the film they managed to "rob" from way back then = WW2. That added a lot to this drama. All in all I give it an easy 8.

Knowledge of the U.S. Military Might Have Helped

[ETO_Buff · 2/10 · 18 January 2022]

In spite of the terrible acting and ridiculous stereotypes, an advisor with at least a nominal amount of knowledge of the U. S. military *might* have made this low-budget series worthy of one more star. I only made it through the first episode and half of the second before I shut it off. I was almost afraid that my wife would be curious as to what I was watching, as she sometimes is, and sit and watch a little of it and then wonder what was wrong with me for watching it. Amongst the many protocols that are not observed in this bomber wing, one of the characters has the rank of master sergeant, which, during World War II was the highest NCO rank in the U. S. Army (and therefore in the U. S. Army Air Corps or Air Force as well), who has a bunk in a common room with all of the other enlisted personnel. He's also very young to have that rank with no combat experience. That probably offsets one of the corporals with a non-speaking role who is very old to be a corporal.

It's just a carelessly produced, lame, disrespectful, piece of tripe that is a true waste of time to watch.

Best Movie Ever !

[WeeNook · 27 June 2002]

I purchased this series three years ago; and, I have watched it, at least, 20 times ! It is wonderful ! The direction is splendid ! The acting is superb ! Recently, I purchased the DVD so that I have a more 'permanent' copy. I have loaned it to people; and, they have thanked me profusely. It is simply WONDERFUL ! Superlatives fail me, I don't know what else to say ! I continually thank my lucky stars that prompted me to purchase it (I knew nothing about it) ! It is that good !

A missed opportunity, a major disappointment

[hjmsia49 · 25 September 2011]

I looked forward to this series with great anticipation as I like intelligent interchange between Americans and Brits. I found too many of the characters so stereotypical and lacking in believability. I enjoyed seeing some old pros like June Barry (Forsyte Saga) and Stuart Wilson (Anna Kerenina)again trying to raise level of the performances. The lead characters, the British doctor and the American Major lacked any chemistry in their vain attempt to bring some conviction to their relationship. The doctor's invalid husband raised the level of British stiff upper lip stoicism to absurd levels. Americans Mario, Hymie and Elmer were little more than cartoon characters. The series was further burdened by plot twists that strained credulity. It is obvious they borrowed a post war B-17 as their major prop. The problem was that their B-17, named Ginger Rogers, was an unpainted silver version, totally different than the brown versions used by the 8th Air Force. It stood out like a sore thumb alongside the actual bombers used during the war. It had a chin turret lacking in machine guns. Every time the silver streak returned to its base, you could anticipate the "wounded aboard flare" as it landed and you waited to see which of Lettie's boy friends would expire. In addition, can you believe that a German Me 110, with an inviting American base close by, would bother to strafe a farm girl in a field and a lonely cyclist on a country road? Can you believe an American airman, who bails out over Belgium and manages to stroll through German occupied France, cross the Pyranees into Spain and Portugal where he hops a British planes to return to his base? Can you believe a 15 year old American tail gunner who shoots down two German fighters on his first mission? While June Barry was excellent as the poor anxious mother and shopkeeper, her hairdo was the best of the entire female cast. She always looked like she just returned from the beauty parlor. If any series required a sequel, this one certainly did with so many plots left hanging. We can only ponder the final fate of the doctor and her two Majors, the Mundy siblings, the flirtatious Rosie and if the crew of the Ginger Rogers 2 would survive the war? We'll never know? Finally, "We'll Meet Again" was a very popular song during WWII by British songstress Vera Lynn. It would have added to this production.

Series marred by poor historical footage and wooden acting

[proctor-5 · 11 September 2005]

I was very much looking forward to watching We'll Meet Again as I know the village where it was filmed and enjoy WW2 dramas. I went right through the 13 episodes in the hope it would improve. Ray Smith playing a version of Windsor Davies sergeant in It Ain't Alf Hot Mum....Susannah York widening her eyes so much I feared for her sight.....the acting lacked any depth with a few exceptions (Elmer, Hymie and Chuck on the American side) and Major Dereham on the English side. By Episode 6 I thought I would scream if I saw any more grainy historical footage of bombs being loaded into B-17s. The whole production smacked of being done "on the cheap", with the players having an inside joke about just how appalling the script was! What a disappointment!